Shelf supporting structure



1954 B. SCHMIDT SHELF SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 18, 1950 INVENTOR. Beptd Schmidt BY J4 jmrzbmf ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 19, 1954 UNITED: STATES ATETNT 1 OF FTC-E:

2 Claims.

This invention relates to certain novel'improvements in shelf supporting structures for storerooms and the like.

One of theobjects of my invention is to provide a; shelf supporting structure which is easy to mount and simple in construction.

Another object of my invention is to provide a shelf structure where the positions of the shelves, may be changed vertically without. any use of tools.

A further object of my invention is to provide a binding element for shelf structures which as a substitute for screws is able to hold the shelves by friction force on desired levels.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of a shelf supporting structure comprising at least one pillar having at least one vertical channel, of T-shaped. section, the stem thereof opening out in the side of the pillar, at least one shelf to be carried by the pillar, a supporting block underlying a portion of the shelf, a holder formed as a shaft with two. end heads, of which. at least one head is a T-head inserted into and loosely fitting in the T-channel with the shaft extending out through the stem of the channel gripping with the outer head behind a portion of theblock, the holder having in carrying position an inclination.outwards-downwards in reference to the pillar.

The invention will'be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1. is a side view of a pillar as a part of. the shelf supporting structure in one embodiment of the invention and showing also a modificationv thereof.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a pair of pillars in the same embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a side View of a pillar as a part of the shelf supporting structure in another embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a plan View of a pair of pillars in the embodiment of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan View of a shaft supporting structure on a reduced scale in the embodiment of Figs. 3 and 4.

Fig. 6 is a side view of a pillar with a shelfsupporting bracket in a third embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a binding element for the structure, and Fig. 9 is a side view thereof.

The shelf supporting structure in the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 5 is built up as a row of pairs of pillars between which pairs the shelves are placed and carried in a desired number above each other. pair in the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 are each The vertical pillars I and 2 of a (Cl. 248-?246l 2 provided, with two vertical channels 3, 4 located opposite each other, each channel incross section in: the shape ofa T. The stems 3', 4' of the.

channels open up in, the opposite sides of the pillar in the direction of the shelves as seen in- Fig. 2'. The channels run along the whole length ofthe pillar.

The two pillars of the pair in Figs. land 2 together carry the opposite ends of two shelves 6 and 7 extending, one to the left and, the other to the: right from the pillar pair. Binding elements 9 are employedvto holdtheshelves in position either by gripping directly into the shelf as exemplified for the shelf 6, or gripping into a support 5; for the shelf as exemplified for the shelf 7, in which case the shelf lies loosely on the; support. All the shelves are indicated by dashed andgdotted lines;

The binding element; or holder 9 consists of a metal strip preferably of rectangular cross sectionas seen in Figs. 3 and 9,,which strip has the shape of a shaft with heads Ill, II at both ends. The, one; head] IQ is adapted to loosely fit the 'P-channel- 3; 4 and forms with the shaft a corresponding T; The holder; has in reference to the channel suchmeasurements that the T-head it may be inserted; through the channel leg 3, 4" 'into the channel and here be turned degrees to; lie in conformity withthe T-shape of the channel. Inserted in such a way the holder can freely be pushed upwards and downwards along the channel and the outer head H canfreely be swung upwards and downwards, so that the holder can have any desired inclination.

The outer'head ll of the holder may have any suitable shape but it is advantageous to shape the same uniformly with the inner T-head' Ill thus making it possible to use any of the heads as an inner, head.

The shelf '6' at theleft' side of the pillar in Fig. 1 has near each corner of the end agroove i2 lying in front of the leg 4' of the channel 4 and ending at the underside of the shelf in a broader recess l2" to receive the shaft and the outer head I I of the holder 9 which shaft extends out from the channel wherein the inner head ID of the holder is located.

The shelf support at the right side of the pillar in Fig. 1 has the shape of a cross beam 5 which near each end has a groove [2 crossing the underside of the beam opposite the leg 3 of the T-channel 3 to receive the outer portion of the holder shaft in such a way that the outer inclined head I I rests on the outer inclined side of the beam thus holding the same in position.

In gripping into the shelf or the beam the holder 9 has in reference to the pillar an inclination outwards-downwards as seen in Fig. 1. The load a from the shelf causes a stretching force b and a down swinging force on the holder, on account of which the force b presses the edge ID of the inner T-head I0 against the wall of the channel 3, and the force c presses the cross beam -if such beam is usedagainst the outer side of the pillar. Thus both said forces are coacting to secure the beam to the pillar. If a new position is desired for the shelf it is only necessary to lift the beam a little thus freeing the holder which then can be pushed upwards or downwards in the channel.

In the embodiment of Figs. 3, 4 and 5 there is only one broad cross beam l4 between the two pillars l5, 16 of the pillar pair, to support the ends of two shelves 6, 7 (Fig. 4). Each pillar has only one vertical T-channel l7 and the openings of the stems H in the two pillars are situated opposite each other. Preferably each end of the cross beam has a guiding extension l8 extending into the channel stem. The holder 9 has the same shape as in the previous embodiment, but instead of the corresponding throughgoing groove in the beam there may be a recess is in the underside shaped essentially in conformity with the outer T-head H.

In Fig. 5 a plan View is shown of a row of pairs of pillars I5, 16 and I5, 16' as well as l5", 16', each pillar pair carrying a cross beam l4, l4, and 14" by means of holders 9 in the Way shown in Fig. 3. The cross beams support the shelves 7, 7' loosely placed on them. A shelf structure may in such a way be built up in any desired length.

In the embodiment of Figs. 6 and 7 the invention is exemplified for shelves 1 supported by brackets 26 which are secured to pillars 2! by means of the holders 9. In this case if desired a row of single pillars may be arranged to carry the brackets, each pillar having a single vertical T-channel 22 for the holder to grip into by its T-head in. In the upper side of the bracket there is a T-shaped recess 23 with an inclination downwards to receive the outer T-head H of the holder 9 in such a way that the holder in carrying posiiton has an inclination outwards-downwards. The weight of the loaded shelf will press the inner T-head against the wall of the pillar channel as well as give the bracket a frictional pressing against the pillar side in the same manner as is described above for the cross beam in Fig. 1, and in such a way secure the bracket in its position at the pillar. The bracket may have a guiding extension 24 extending into the T-channel 22.

The pillars, cross beams and shelves are preferably made of wood but, if desired, any other suitable material may be used. As will be seen from the description above the structure is easy and cheap to build up, every shelf can be placed at any desired level and easily be changed to any other position without the use of tools. The holders are of a simple shape and may be stamped out of iron sheets. A secure holding is obtained and the load itself increases the security.

As the construction is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention, I do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A shelf supporting structure comprsing a pillar having a vertical channel of T-shaped cross section, the stem thereof opening out in the side of the pillar, a supporting block adapted to sup port a shelf, said block having a groove in its underside, a separate free-lying holder for the bloclr formed as a shaft with two heads, at least one head being a T-head, the arms of which are I rectangular in cross section, said T-head being inserted into and loosely and slidably fitting in the T-channel with the shaft extending through the channel stem, the portion of said shaft extending outwardly of the pillar being received in the groove in said block, the outer head on said shaft gripping behind a portion of the block, the holder being inclined outwardly and downwardly and having one of the edges of the T-head directed toward the inner surface of the channel close to the channel stem, the weight of the shelf applied to the block pressing the T-head against said inner surface and tightening the grip of the outer head of the holder on the block, said block abutting against the outer face of the pillar with a frictional pressing, limiting the downward inclination of the holder and assisting to maintain the holder in adjusted position.

2. A shelf supporting structure of the character defined in claim 1, wherein the outer face of the block is inclined, with the outer head of the holder engaging said inclined face of the block.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 166,759 Fellows Aug. 17, 1875 310,024 Bowman Dec. 30, 1884 439,636 Buck Nov. 4, 1890 754,817 Shrieffer Mar. 15, 1904 1,608,592 Funk. Nov. 30, 1926 1,824,243 Thies Sept. 22, 193] 2,375,726 Bales May 8, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 234,585 Germany May 15, 1911 

